Banks should warn exposed savers

It's not often that the majority of MPs say banks should be forced to raise interest rates
But in this case they mean raising interest in a protection scheme for all savers who use UK financial institutions.
Such is the widespread ignorance of the scheme, that banks and building societies are being urged to tell investors when they exceed its guaranteed limits.
All this is according to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the UK's savings safety net.
This last-resort compensation fund protects a maximum £85,000 for single account savers and £170,000 for joint accounts if a bank goes bust.
This is funded by an industry levy.
As many as 81 per cent of MPs surveyed in an FSCS poll say financial institutions should make it clear to savers when their deposits exceed the £85,000 compensation limit that anything above this amount is not protected.
More than three-quarters (76 per cent) of customers polled agree, said the FSCS.
The body itself wants to see banks and building societies doing more to raise awareness about compensation limits in their everyday dealings with customers, including advertising.
The FSCS previously acknowledged that its own promotional efforts have not sufficiently raised the public grasp of the scheme.
Its last study in December found that just over one in 10 customers (12 per cent) know precisely how much of their money would be safeguarded if their bank went under.
Such lack of awareness has continued, despite new awareness rules coming into force last August.
They ordered that that banks, building societies and credit unions must prominently display stickers or posters publicising compensation rates.
The savings safety net's latest study also discovered that more than three in four MPs think that banks and building societies should include details about the FSCS in their advertising.
Four-fifths say that raising awareness of the body would enhance consumer confidence and financial stability.
Researchers surveyed more than 150 MPs and 1,000 consumers.
The FSCS has assisted more than 4.5 million people and paid out more than £26 billion in the past 12 years.
The scheme guarantees savings held with UK banks and subsidiaries of foreign banks which operate in the UK.
It does not, however, cover deposits stored with UK branches of European banks, which are covered by the relevant compensation scheme in the country where the bank has its head office.
The recent Cyprus economic collapse highlighted the subject of savings protection.
It was announced last week that about 15,000 savers in the UK branch of stricken Cypriot bank Laiki would have their savings switched to Bank of Cyprus UK.
This bank works as a fully-fledged independent bank in this country.
This means that its deposits are covered by the FSCS.
Mark Neale, FSCS chief executive, said it is too late for customers to learn about FSCS when a run on a bank begins.
He thinks banking companies can and should do more.
Mr Neale said that savings compensation awareness is higher in the United States as financial institutions customarily include such details in their advertising.

Should You Pay Over Asking Price?

A reader asks: "Every home we have been interested in looking at lately is sold from under us. Sometimes, the home sells before we even get to look at it. Our REALTOR® is telling us we have to a) be faster and b) pay over list price. I guess we could act a little faster but why should we have to pay more than list price, more than what the seller is asking? That sounds like our REALTOR® just wants to make more money from us. What gives? Is it OK to pay over list price for a home? Would anybody ever do it?"Answer: First, let's address the issue of whether your agent will push a higher price on you so the agent can get paid more. That's most likely untrue. It's unethical. Moreover, if you figure that agents get paid a small percentage of the sales price, the amount they would receive for a $10,000 price increase, for example, hardly amounts to enough to pay for a dinner for two at a nice restaurant.
On the other hand, it is completely understandable how a home buyer might be reluctant to pay over list price for a home. After all, if you go into a grocery store to buy a loaf of bread, you don't expect the grocery clerk to ring up a higher price for that loaf of bread than the amount shown on the sticker. Why should you pay more for a loaf of bread?
Now, imagine there has been a terrible flood. All of the roads into town are washed out. Nobody can get in or out for days. The grocery store aisles are pretty much bare, yet there remains one loaf of bread sitting on the shelf all by itself. There is a line of shoppers waiting outside the door for the store to open. All eyes are on that one loaf of bread. Now how much would you pay for it? This is exactly what happens in a seller's market and why you might have to pay over list price for a home.
For many buyers, paying over list price for a home goes against the grain. It goes against everything they have ever known about real estate, which is to say they think you're supposed to negotiate. How can a buyer negotiate if the seller wants more money way over the asking price? How high do you go?
The problem is competition. You've got more buyers than there are homes to buy in a seller's market. In real estate lingo, it's known as limited or falling inventory. Whenever you have a big demand for a product in small supply, the price for that product goes up. In a multiple-offer situation, the final price often exceeds the list price.
In highly competitive markets, some buyers try to get creative because they are desperate to buy a home. They might employ an escalation clause in their purchase offer. An escalation clause works like this. I want to buy your home, and you are asking $200,000. I would write an offer that says I will pay X amount, let's say $1,000 more than your highest competing offer up to X amount, say, $220,000.
There are buyers who think this is a very clever strategy but few real estate agents agree. I do not use escalation clauses in my real estate practice. Here are a few of the problems: For starters, you don't really know if there is another higher offer. Second, you might pay a lot more than you would pay in a normal negotiation process. And third, there is no solid sales price named, and lawyers say it could make the contract invalid.
In certain circumstances, a seller might ask buyers to go into round two of negotiations. Say, 10 buyers have made an offer to buy a home. If the seller cannot decide between the offers, or if the offers are similar to each other, the seller might elect to ask each of the buyers to submit their highest and best price for the property.
This is known as bidding against yourself. Because you are asked to increase your offer without knowing how much the other offers are or even if your offer is already the highest offer. Another way to look at this practice is the fact you are given a second chance to change your offer price. Maybe you were the second offer, thinking there would be only two offers. If you had known that there would be 10 offers, you might have offered more in the first place.
On the plus side, if you pay over list price for a home, you might buy a home. Whereas, not paying over list price for a home in a multiple offer situation would mean you are not buying a home at all. However, you run the risk that the home might not appraise. If you are relying on financing to close the transaction, you will need to obtain an appraisal for the bank.
Appraisals are simply a matter of professional opinion and professionals can differ from each other in opinions. The appraisal will be based on comparable sales. If there are no comparable sales to support your offer price, the home will not appraise. This means you will most likely be asked to pay the difference or to cancel the transaction.

Smart sellers do not accept an offer from a buyer that is too high to appraise. Not unless the buyer has given the seller assurance that the buyer will absorb the difference and close, regardless of appraisal. Bear in mind that a buyer who says the appraisal is waived might be relying on other contingencies by which the buyer could cancel. An appraisal contingency waiver is not always a guarantee that the buyer will close.

This is what the page of the local newspaper & health welfare should be?

I get excited when I see a newspaper – as my local Star Tribune-add a science page, which they did recently.  And I don't get too upset that none of the entries on this page of science were produced locally. Better than nothing, I thought.  No damage.  Maybe it will improve science literacy and interest in science, a little on some readers.

Then Sunday Star Tribune yesterday splashes this health + wellbeing page on me.  And 80% of the page is dedicated to a story lifted from the book of Hackensack, NJ, the registry.   Nothing against Hackensack or the registry.  But this story was about heart artery catheterization done through pulse – "a European doctors approach have used for years."

Interesting.

And now it is being done in New Jersey.  And the story ends with a NJ NJ doc predicting: "I think, eventually, 90 percent of patients will be able to have it".

But I don't live in New Jersey.  I live in Minnesota.  And the Star Tribune is a part of Minnesota.

And THERE Is Not A Word HERE ABOUT WHETHER SOMEONE Is DOING THIS In MINNESOTA1

This is what we call shovelware.  Nothing in the shovel to create the appearance of a health/medicine specialized page .... Heck, even call it a page of "wellness", because what's hot.

As a new sign that an entity orphaned this page little excuse of not-so-special was, was the variety section (!), hidden among the characteristics the GIRL POWER! .... making us laugh in MINNESOTA ... something called the junk drawer ... and a review of the film "The Dark Knight Rises".

Now, that's where I think it look for a health/well-being page, with a story about interventional cardiology!

 

Interest rates should be, right?

This explains the interest rate and the lowest current historical questions in the guest will soon need to go high. General  Dr. Steve Sjuggerud's true wealth advisors, hedge funds, mutual funds, Vice President-Founder/Editor on the article. Launched in 2001, and the United States is one of the most followed newsletter private investor area.  Article originally was featured on a bullion Vault.

Not everyone can go from here, but I think the interest rate Steve Sjuggerud writes his daily wealth email.

Because, today less than 2% 10 year Treasury yield is the lowest in the history of the United States. They simply go right up. ..?

If you believe in him, is part of the "crowd". History for a long time, I can stay this low rate. And probably lower in the next few years. Let me explain…
Darren's latest "big money" survey (April 2008), United States Department of the Treasury of the respondents, only 2 percent of anticipated lower interest rates. Another way that 98% of respondents said they do not expect low prices.

But the interest rate?

Map for Let's take a look at what happened in Japan. In 1996, Japan next-nothing else-we Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke did a few years ago at an interest rate cut, as more than 2 percent.

The chart below shows the long-term interest rates in Japan (solid red) short term interest rates (dotted red lines) along the lower. Japan's long term interest rates fell below 1%. In the long term interest rate 1% below Japan today still.

Only a few years ago, the United States began cutting interest rates dramatically, just like Japan. And just as in the long term interest rates down and slow Japan. America's long term interest rates to 2%. This is just like Japan in Japan began cutting speed.

In the following chart, our long-term interest rates (blue, solid line) over the past five years have ***** and Ben Bernanke's big rate cut (the dotted blue line) in Japan's big rate cuts and on the same date. The result is almost identical ... Successfully.

So, in the long term interest rates away from the United States can be? Absolutely.

Interest rates are on the decline as of the chart show. And while we're on the right track with the 1990 's Japan interest rates. What's more, 98% of the people think it can't go lower rate, according to Barron's survey. And a lot of smart analysts are betting high on them.

They can get along very well. However, as you can see from the history, it is not inevitable. And when the huge majority believes something, as opposed to the market, and habit.

Cash and bonds pay less than discerning great, because buying gold or silver?

Steve Sjuggerud, November ' 12

Please note from bullion Vault-Note: all articles published here are your thoughts, it may not lead. You can decide the best place for your money, and what decisions will put your money at risk. Information or data that they contain, you must verify and overtake the event-there are others-you must choose to act on it.

Related posts:

Gold buying demand "difficult"-gold AnalysisGold News & analysis-$ strength required for the gold price rally is even worse crisis hits the market-priced crude manipulation SteadiesDerivative

View the original article here

"Take what you need and leave the rest, but never should have taken better"

"Take what you need and leave the rest, but never should have taken better" is a refrain from "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down", one of the best-known songs of The Band.

Levon Helm, the revered drummer and singer of the band the Band has retained the core band for more than three decades, "peacefully" died on 19 April.

From CNN:

Born in Elaine, Arkansas, in 1940, the son of a cotton farmer, Helm rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s as a member of The Band, a folk rock band.

His voice, Soul, drawling highlighted many successful recordings, such as "The Weight", "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek".

Helm, 71, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. He fell on hard times as the cancer took his voice and medical expenses threatened his home.

"You got to choose one-pay medical bills or pay the mortgage. Most people cannot do both, and I am no different, "said CNN in 2010.

So The Barn, as the residence is known around Christmas foster helm of Woodstock, New York, became the setting that calls a "last celebration". Not at all. Instead, The Barn became the Centre of an unlikely and unrivaled rock 'n roll revival.

It was there that Helm regularly hosted the midnight ramble, weekly concerts, which attracted sell-out crowds and media all-star. The result not only paid the Bills but also led to a recrudescence creative helm, with his collaborations with Grammy winning album produced back to back: "Dirt farmer" and "the 2007 Electric Dirt" of 2009.

"If I had my way about it, we probably would do it every night," said helm. "I'm not tired of it."

From Wikipedia:

Helm remained with The Band until their 1976 farewell performance, The Last Waltz, which was recorded in a documentary film director Martin Scorsese (an excerpt is embedded above). Many music fans know Helm through his appearance in the concert film, a performance notable for the fact that Helm's vocal tracks appear substantially as they sang during a grueling concert.

In the 1990s, the helm was diagnosed with throat cancer suffering hoarseness. Advised to undergo laryngectomy, helm instead underwent an arduous regimen of radiation therapy at Memorial with Cancer Center in New York City. Although the tumor was successfully removed, the rudder's vocal cords were damaged, and his powerful tenor voice and has been replaced by a quiet RASP. Initially Helm only played drums and relied on guest vocalists at the Rambles, but Helm's singing voice became louder. The January 10, 2004, she sang once again of his ramble sessions. In 2007, during production of dirt farmer, Helm estimated that his singing voice was 80% recovered.

The midnight ramble was an outgrowth of an idea Helm explained to Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz. Earlier in the 20th century Helm explained, traveling medicine shows and music shows which Assassinators of F.S. Walcott rabbit, featuring African-American blues singers and dancers, would put futile performances in rural areas. This was turned into a song by the band, "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show," with the name altered so the lyric was easier to sing.

"After the finale, which would have the midnight ramble," Helm told Scorsese. With young children off the premises, picked up the show: "the songs would get a bit more juicy. Jokes would get a little more fun and the best dancer would really get down and shake it a few times. A lot of rock and roll duck walks and moves came from that. "

Helm refused to play "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" by 1976, though he continued to perform "Midnight rambles" several times a month in his private residence in Woodstock, New York.

References:

Fans remember Levon Helm as he tackles the final stages of cancer. CNN.
Levon Helm, co-founder of The Band, died at 71. CNN.
Levon Helm, an icon of American music, is in the final stages of cancer ". Guardian.
Fauquier ENT Blog: Levon Helm, singer/drummer for The Band, dies of throat cancer http://goo.gl/tDgxL
Levon Helm. Wikipedia.

 

"Take what you need and leave the rest, but never should have taken better"

"Take what you need and leave the rest, but never should have taken better" is a refrain from "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down", one of the best-known songs of The Band.

Levon Helm, the revered drummer and singer of the band the Band has retained the core band for more than three decades, "peacefully" died on 19 April.

From CNN:

Born in Elaine, Arkansas, in 1940, the son of a cotton farmer, Helm rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s as a member of The Band, a folk rock band.

His voice, Soul, drawling highlighted many successful recordings, such as "The Weight", "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek".

Helm, 71, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. He fell on hard times as the cancer took his voice and medical expenses threatened his home.

"You got to choose one-pay medical bills or pay the mortgage. Most people cannot do both, and I am no different, "said CNN in 2010.

So The Barn, as the residence is known around Christmas foster helm of Woodstock, New York, became the setting that calls a "last celebration". Not at all. Instead, The Barn became the Centre of an unlikely and unrivaled rock 'n roll revival.

It was there that Helm regularly hosted the midnight ramble, weekly concerts, which attracted sell-out crowds and media all-star. The result not only paid the Bills but also led to a recrudescence creative helm, with his collaborations with Grammy winning album produced back to back: "Dirt farmer" and "the 2007 Electric Dirt" of 2009.

"If I had my way about it, we probably would do it every night," said helm. "I'm not tired of it."

From Wikipedia:

Helm remained with The Band until their 1976 farewell performance, The Last Waltz, which was recorded in a documentary film director Martin Scorsese (an excerpt is embedded above). Many music fans know Helm through his appearance in the concert film, a performance notable for the fact that Helm's vocal tracks appear substantially as they sang during a grueling concert.

In the 1990s, the helm was diagnosed with throat cancer suffering hoarseness. Advised to undergo laryngectomy, helm instead underwent an arduous regimen of radiation therapy at Memorial with Cancer Center in New York City. Although the tumor was successfully removed, the rudder's vocal cords were damaged, and his powerful tenor voice and has been replaced by a quiet RASP. Initially Helm only played drums and relied on guest vocalists at the Rambles, but Helm's singing voice became louder. The January 10, 2004, she sang once again of his ramble sessions. In 2007, during production of dirt farmer, Helm estimated that his singing voice was 80% recovered.

The midnight ramble was an outgrowth of an idea Helm explained to Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz. Earlier in the 20th century Helm explained, traveling medicine shows and music shows which Assassinators of F.S. Walcott rabbit, featuring African-American blues singers and dancers, would put futile performances in rural areas. This was turned into a song by the band, "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show," with the name altered so the lyric was easier to sing.

"After the finale, which would have the midnight ramble," Helm told Scorsese. With young children off the premises, picked up the show: "the songs would get a bit more juicy. Jokes would get a little more fun and the best dancer would really get down and shake it a few times. A lot of rock and roll duck walks and moves came from that. "

Helm refused to play "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" by 1976, though he continued to perform "Midnight rambles" several times a month in his private residence in Woodstock, New York.

References:

Fans remember Levon Helm as he tackles the final stages of cancer. CNN.
Levon Helm, co-founder of The Band, died at 71. CNN.
Levon Helm, an icon of American music, is in the final stages of cancer ". Guardian.
Fauquier ENT Blog: Levon Helm, singer/drummer for The Band, dies of throat cancer http://goo.gl/tDgxL
Levon Helm. Wikipedia.

 

"Take what you need and leave the rest, but never should have taken better"

"Take what you need and leave the rest, but never should have taken better" is a refrain from "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down", one of the best-known songs of The Band.

Levon Helm, the revered drummer and singer of the band the Band has retained the core band for more than three decades, "peacefully" died on 19 April.

From CNN:

Born in Elaine, Arkansas, in 1940, the son of a cotton farmer, Helm rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s as a member of The Band, a folk rock band.

His voice, Soul, drawling highlighted many successful recordings, such as "The Weight", "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek".

Helm, 71, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. He fell on hard times as the cancer took his voice and medical expenses threatened his home.

"You got to choose one-pay medical bills or pay the mortgage. Most people cannot do both, and I am no different, "said CNN in 2010.

So The Barn, as the residence is known around Christmas foster helm of Woodstock, New York, became the setting that calls a "last celebration". Not at all. Instead, The Barn became the Centre of an unlikely and unrivaled rock 'n roll revival.

It was there that Helm regularly hosted the midnight ramble, weekly concerts, which attracted sell-out crowds and media all-star. The result not only paid the Bills but also led to a recrudescence creative helm, with his collaborations with Grammy winning album produced back to back: "Dirt farmer" and "the 2007 Electric Dirt" of 2009.

"If I had my way about it, we probably would do it every night," said helm. "I'm not tired of it."

From Wikipedia:

Helm remained with The Band until their 1976 farewell performance, The Last Waltz, which was recorded in a documentary film director Martin Scorsese (an excerpt is embedded above). Many music fans know Helm through his appearance in the concert film, a performance notable for the fact that Helm's vocal tracks appear substantially as they sang during a grueling concert.

In the 1990s, the helm was diagnosed with throat cancer suffering hoarseness. Advised to undergo laryngectomy, helm instead underwent an arduous regimen of radiation therapy at Memorial with Cancer Center in New York City. Although the tumor was successfully removed, the rudder's vocal cords were damaged, and his powerful tenor voice and has been replaced by a quiet RASP. Initially Helm only played drums and relied on guest vocalists at the Rambles, but Helm's singing voice became louder. The January 10, 2004, she sang once again of his ramble sessions. In 2007, during production of dirt farmer, Helm estimated that his singing voice was 80% recovered.

The midnight ramble was an outgrowth of an idea Helm explained to Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz. Earlier in the 20th century Helm explained, traveling medicine shows and music shows which Assassinators of F.S. Walcott rabbit, featuring African-American blues singers and dancers, would put futile performances in rural areas. This was turned into a song by the band, "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show," with the name altered so the lyric was easier to sing.

"After the finale, which would have the midnight ramble," Helm told Scorsese. With young children off the premises, picked up the show: "the songs would get a bit more juicy. Jokes would get a little more fun and the best dancer would really get down and shake it a few times. A lot of rock and roll duck walks and moves came from that. "

Helm refused to play "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" by 1976, though he continued to perform "Midnight rambles" several times a month in his private residence in Woodstock, New York.

References:

Fans remember Levon Helm as he tackles the final stages of cancer. CNN.
Levon Helm, co-founder of The Band, died at 71. CNN.
Levon Helm, an icon of American music, is in the final stages of cancer ". Guardian.
Fauquier ENT Blog: Levon Helm, singer/drummer for The Band, dies of throat cancer http://goo.gl/tDgxL
Levon Helm. Wikipedia.

 

Your child should watch the news on TV? Surprising opinions of top anchors

KIDS AND THE NEWS
More than ever, children witness innumerable, sometimes traumatizing,
news events on TV. It seems that violent crime and bad news is unabating.
Foreign wars, natural disasters, terrorism, murders, incidents of child abuse,
and medical epidemics flood our newscasts daily. Not to mention the grim
wave of recent school shootings.
All of this intrudes on the innocent world of children. If, as psychologists
say, kids are like sponges and absorb everything that goes on around them,
how profoundly does watching TV news actually affect them? How careful do
parents need to be in monitoring the flow of news into the home, and how can
they find an approach that works?
To answer these questions, we turned to a panel of seasoned anchors, Peter
Jennings, Maria Shriver, Linda Ellerbee, and Jane Pauley--each having faced the
complexities of raising their own vulnerable children in a news-saturated
world.
Picture this: 6:30 p.m. After an exhausting day at the office, Mom is busy
making dinner. She parks her 9-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son in front
of the TV.
"Play Nintendo until dinner's ready," she instructs the little ones, who,
instead, start flipping channels.
Tom Brokaw on "NBC News Tonight," announces that an Atlanta gunman
has killed his wife, daughter and son, all three with a hammer, before going on
a shooting rampage that leaves nine dead.
On "World News Tonight," Peter Jennings reports that a jumbo jetliner with
more than 300 passengers crashed in a spinning metal fireball at a Hong Kong
airport.
On CNN, there's a report about the earthquake in Turkey, with 2,000
people killed.
On the Discovery channel, there's a timely special on hurricanes and the
terror they create in children. Hurricane Dennis has already struck, Floyd is
coming.
Finally, they see a local news report about a roller coaster accident at a New
Jersey amusement park that kills a mother and her eight-year-old daughter.
Nintendo was never this riveting.
"Dinner's ready!" shouts Mom, unaware that her children may be terrified
by this menacing potpourri of TV news.
What's wrong with this picture?
"There's a LOT wrong with it, but it's not that easily fixable," notes Linda
Ellerbee, the creator and host of "Nick News," the award-winning news
program geared for kids ages 8-13, airing on Nickelodeon.
"Watching blood and gore on TV is NOT good for kids and it doesn't do
much to enhance the lives of adults either," says the anchor, who strives to
inform children about world events without terrorizing them. "We're into
stretching kids' brains and there's nothing we wouldn't cover," including
recent programs on euthanasia, the Kosovo crisis, prayer in schools, book-
banning, the death penalty, and Sudan slaves.
But Ellerbee emphasizes the necessity of parental supervision, shielding
children from unfounded fears. "During the Oklahoma City bombing, there
were terrible images of children being hurt and killed," Ellerbee recalls. "Kids
wanted to know if they were safe in their beds. In studies conducted by
Nickelodeon, we found out that kids find the news the most frightening thing
on TV.
"Whether it's the Gulf War, the Clinton scandal, a downed jetliner, or what
happened in Littleton, you have to reassure your children, over and over again,
that they're going to be OK--that the reason this story is news is that IT
ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS. News is the exception...nobody goes on the air
happily and reports how many planes landed safely!
"My job is to put the information into an age-appropriate context and lower
anxieties. Then it's really up to the parents to monitor what their kids watch
and discuss it with them"
Yet a new study of the role of media in the lives of children conducted by
the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation reveals that 95% of the nation's children
ages 8-18 are watching TV without their parents present.
How does Ellerbee view the typical scenario of the harried mother above?
"Mom's taking a beating here. Where's Dad?" Ellerbee asks.Perhaps at work,
or living separately from Mom, or absent altogether.
"Right. Most Moms and Dads are working as hard as they can because we
live in a society where one income just doesn't cut it anymore,"
NBC News correspondent Maria Shriver, the mother of four--Katherine,
13, Christina, 12, Patrick, 10, and Christopher, 6--agrees with Ellerbee: "But
Moms
aren't using the TV as a babysitter because they're out getting manicures!"
says the 48-year-old anchor.
"Those mothers are struggling to make ends meet and they do it because
they need help. I don't think kids would be watching [as much TV] if their
parents were home organizing a touch football game.
"When I need the TV as a babysitter," says Shriver, who leaves detailed TV-
viewing instructions behind when traveling, "I put on a safe video. I don't mind
that my kids have watched "Pretty Woman" or "My Best Friend's Wedding"
3,000 times. I'd be more fearful if they watched an hour of local news.That
would scare them. They might feel: 'Oh, my God, is somebody going to come
in and shoot me in my bedroom?'"
In a move to supervise her own children more closely since her husband,
Arnold Schwarzenegger, became Governor, Shriver
scaled back her workload as Contributing Anchor to Dateline NBC and set up
her office at home: "You can never be vigilant enough with your kids," she
says, "because watching violence on TV clearly has a huge impact on
children--whether it's TV news, movies, or cartoons."
This view is shared by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry, which states: ""TV is a powerful influence in developing value
systems and shaping behavior...studies find that children may become immune
to the horror of violence; gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems;
and resort to anti-social and aggressive behavior, imitating the violence they
observe."
Although there are no rules about watching TV in 49% of the nation's
households, TV-watching at the Schwarzenegger home is almost totally
verboten:
"We have a blanket rule that my kids do not watch any TV at all during the
week," she notes, "and having a TV in their bedrooms has never been an
option. I have enough trouble getting them to do their homework!" she states
with a laugh. "Plus the half hour of reading they have to do every night.
According to the Kaiser survey, Shriver's household is a glaring exception to
the rule. "Many kids have their own TV's, VCR's and video games in their
bedroom," the study notes. Moreover, children ages 8-18 actually spend an
average of three hours and 16 minutes watching TV daily; only 44 minutes
reading; 31 minutes using the computer; 27 minutes playing video games;
and a mere 13 minutes using the Internet.
"My kids," Shriver explains, "get home at 4 p.m., have a 20-minute break,
then go right into homework or after-school sports. Then, I'm a big believer in
having family dinner time. Some of my fondest memories are of sitting at the
dinner table and listening to my parents, four brothers, and my grandmother,
Rose. We didn't watch the news.
"After dinner nowadays, we play a game, then my kids are in bed, reading
their books. There's no time in that day for any TV, except on weekends, when
they're allowed to watch a Disney video, Sesame Street, Barney, The Brady
Bunch, or Pokemon."
Beyond safe entertainment, Shriver has eliminated entirely the option of her
children watching news events unfolding live on TV: "My kids," she notes, "do
not watch any TV news, other than Nick News," instead providing her children
with Time for Kids, [Teen Newsweek is also available], Highlights, and
newspaper clippings discussed over dinner.
"No subject should be off-limits," Shriver concludes, "but you must filter
the news to your kids."
ABC's Peter Jennings, who reigns over "World News Tonight," the nation's
most-watched evening newscast, emphatically disagrees with a censored
approach to news-watching: "I have two kids--Elizabeth is now 24 and
Christopher is 21-- and they were allowed to watch as much TV news and
information anytime they wanted," says the anchor. A firm believer in
kids understanding the world around them, he adapted his bestselling book,
The Century, for children ages 10 and older in The Century for Young People.
No downside to kids watching news? "I don't know of any downside and I've
thought about it many times. I used to worry about my kids' exposure to
violence and overt sex in the movies. Like most parents, I found that although
they were exposed to violence sooner than I would have liked, I don't feel
they've been affected by it. The jury's still out on the sex.
"I have exposed my kids to the violence of the world--to the bestiality of
man--from the very beginning, at age 6 or 7. I didn't try to hide it. I never
worried about putting a curtain between them and reality, because I never felt
my children would be damaged by being exposed to violence IF they
understood the context in which it occurred. I would talk to my kids about the
vulnerability of children in wartime--the fact that they are innocent pawns--
and about what we could do as a family to make the world a more peaceful
place.
Jennings firmly believes that coddling children is a mistake: "I've never
talked down to my children, or to children period. I always talk UP to them and
my newscast is appropriate for children of any age."
Yet the 65-year-old anchor often gets letters from irate parents: "They'll
say: 'How dare you put that on at 6:30 when my children are watching?' My
answer is: 'Madam, that's not my problem. That's YOUR problem. It's
absolutely up to the parent to monitor the flow of news into the home."
Part of directing this flow is turning it off altogether at meal-time, says
Jennings, who believes family dinners are sacrosanct. He is appalled that the
TV is turned on during meals in 58% of the nation's households, this according
to the Kaiser study.
"Watching TV during dinner is unforgivable," he exclaims, explaining that
he always insisted that his family wait until he arrived home from anchoring
the news. "You're darn right they waited...even when my kids were tiny, they
never ate until 7:30 or 8 pm. Then we would sit with no music, no TV. Why
waste such a golden opportunity? Watching TV at mealtime robs the family of
the essence of the dinner, which is communion and exchange of ideas. I mean,
God, if the dinner table is anything, it's a place to learn manners and
appreciation for two of the greatest things in life--food and drink."
Jennings is likewise unequivocal in his view of junk TV and believes parking
kids at the tube creates dull minds: "I think using TV as a babysitter is a
terrible idea because the damn television is very narcotic, drug-like. Mindless
TV makes for passive human beings--and it's a distraction from homework!
"My two children were allowed to watch only a half an hour of entertainment
TV per night--and they never had TV's in their bedrooms.It's a conscious
choice I made as a parent not to tempt them...too seductive..."
Adds Ellerbee: "TV is seductive and is meant to be. The hard, clear fact is
that when kids are watching TV, they're not doing anything else!"
Indeed, according to the National Institute on Out-of-School Time and the
Office of Research Education Consumer Guide, TV plays a bigger role in
children's lives now than ever before. Kids watch TV an average of14 to 22
hours per week, which accounts for at least 25 percent of their free time.
"Dateline NBC" Anchor Jane Pauley, intensely private, declined an interview
to discuss how she and her husband, cartoonist Garry Trudeau ("Doonesbury")
handle TV-watching with their three teens, two of whom are fraternal twins.
But in a written response, she agreed that kids need to be better protected
from the onslaught of violence: "I was a visitor at a public elementary school
not long ago, and was invited to peek in on a fourth-grade class on 'current
events.' The assignment had been to watch the news and write about one of
the stories. Two kids picked the fatal attack on a child by a pit bull and the
other wrote about a child who'd hanged herself with a belt! They'd all watched
the worst blood and gore 'News at 11' station in town. The teacher gave no
hint that she was as appalled as I was. My response was to help the school get
subscriptions to "Time for Kids" and "My Weekly Reader." People need to be
better news consumers. And tabloid TV is very unhealthy for kids."
On this point, Ellerbee readily agrees:"I really do believe the first
amendment STOPS at your front door. You are the boss at home and parents
have every right to monitor what their kids watch. What's even better is
watching with them and initiating conversations about what they see.If your
child is watching something terribly violent, sit down and DEFUSE it. Talking
makes the ghosts run...and kids can break through their scared feelings."
Adds Pauly:
"Kids," she maintains, "know about bad news--they're the ones trying to
spare us the bad news sometimes. But kids should be able to see that their
parents are both human enough to be deeply affected by a tragedy like
Columbine, but also sturdy enough to get through it...and on with life. That is
the underpinning of their security."
"I'm no expert on the nation's children," adds Jennings, " but I'd have to say
no, it wasn't traumatic. Troubling, shocking, even devastating to some,
confusing to others, but traumatizing in that great sense, no.
"Would I explain to my kids that there are young, upset, angry, depressed
kids in the world? Yes. I hear the most horrendous stories about what's going
on in high schools from my kids. And because of the shootings, parents are
now on edge--pressuring educators to 'do something.' They have to be
reminded that the vast majority of all schools in America are overwhelmingly
safe," a fact borne out by The National School Safety Center, which reports that
in l998 there were just 25 violent deaths in schools compared to an average of
50 in the early 90's.
Ellerbee adds that a parent's ability to listen is more important than
lobbying school principals for more metal detectors and armed guards: "If
there was ever a case where grown-ups weren't listening to kids, it was
Littleton. First, don't interrupt your child...let them get the whole thought out.
Next, if you sit silently for a couple of seconds after they're finished, they'll
start talking again, getting to a second level of honesty. Third, try to be honest
with your kid. To very small children, it's proper to say: 'This is never going to
happen to you...' But you don't say that to a 10-year-old."
Moreover, Ellerbee believes that media literacy begins the day parents stop
pretending that if you ignore TV, it will go away. "Let your kid know from the
very beginning that he or she is SMARTER than TV: 'I am in control of this box,
it is not in control of me. I will use this box as a useful, powerful TOOL, but will
not be used by it.' Kids know the difference.
"Watching TV," Ellerbee maintains, "can makes kids more civilized. I grew
up in the south of Texas in a family of bigoted people. Watching TV made me
question my own family's beliefs in the natural inferiority of people of color.
For me, TV was a real window that broadened my world."
Ironically, for Shriver, watching TV news is incredibly painful when the
broadcast is about you. Being a Kennedy, Shriver has lived a lifetime in the
glare of rumors and
televised speculation about her own family. Presenting the news to her children
has therefore included explaining the tragedies and controversies the
Kennedys have endured. She was just eight years old when her uncle, President
John F. Kennedy, was assassinated: "I grew up in a very big shadow...and I
couldn't avoid it," she admits. "It wasn't a choker, but it was a big
responsibility that I don't want my own children to feel." Yet doesn't her 15-
year marriage to megastar Schwarzenegger add yet another layer of public
curiosity close to home? "My kids are not watching Entertainment Tonight--no,
no, never! And I don't bring them to movie openings or Planet Hollywood. I
think it's fine for them to be proud of their father, but not show off about him."
How does she emotionally handle news when her family's in it? "That's a line
I've been walking since my own childhood, and it's certainly effected the kind
of reporter I've become. It's made me less aggressive. I'm not [in the news
business] to glorify myself at someone else's expense, but rather to report a
story without destroying someone in the process. A producer might say: 'Call
this person who's in a disastrous situation and book them right way.' And I'm
like: 'Ahhhh. I can't even bring myself to do it,' because I've been on the
other side and know the family is in such pain."
A few years ago, of course, the Kennedys experienced profound pain, yet
again, when Shriver's beloved cousin, John F. Kennedy, Jr., was killed in a plane
crash, with his wife, Carolyn, and sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette. A blizzard of
news coverage ensued, unremitting for weeks. "I didn't watch any of it...I was
busy, " Shriver says quietly. "And my children didn't watch any of it either."
Shriver was, however, somewhat prepared to discuss the tragedy with her
children. She is the author of the best-selling "What's Heaven?" [Golden Books],
a book geared for children ages 4-8, which explains death and the loss of a
loved one. "My children knew John well because he spent Christmases with us. I
explained what happened to John as the news unfolded...walked them through
it as best I could. I reminded them that Mommy wrote the book and said:
'We're not going to see John anymore. He has gone to God...to heaven...and we
have to pray for him and for his sister [Caroline] and her children."
Like Shriver, Jennings is personally uncomfortable in the role of covering
private tragedies in a public forum: "In my shop, I'm regarded as one of those
people who drags their feet a lot at the notion of covering those things," he
explains. "During the O.J. Simpson trial, I decided not to go crazy in our
coverage--and we took quite a smack and dropped from first to second in the
ratings. TV is a business, so when a real corker of a story like Princess Diana's
death comes along, we cover it. I think we're afraid not to do it. We're guilty of
overkill, and with Diana, we ended up celebrating something that was largely
ephemeral, making Diana more than she was. But audiences leap up!
"I was totally opposed to covering John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s funeral, because I
saw no need to do it. He wasn't a public figure, though others would say I was
wrong. On-air, I said: 'I don't think the young Mr. Kennedy would approve of
all this excess...' But we did three hours on the funeral and it turned out to be
a wonderful long history lesson about American politics and the Kennedy
dynasty's place in our national life.
"Sometimes," Jennings muses, "TV is like a chapel in which we, as a nation,
can gather to have a communal experience of loss.We did it with the
Challenger, more recently with JFK Jr.'s death and we will do it shortly, I
suspect, though I hope not, with Ronald Reagan. It's not much different than
what people did when they went West in covered wagons in the last century.
When tragedy struck, they gathered the wagons around, lit the fire, and talked
about their losses of the day. And then went on. Television can be very
comforting."
In closing, Ellerbee contends that you can't blame TV news producers for
the human appetite for sensational news coverage that often drags on for days
at a time:
"As a reporter," she muses, "I have never been to a war, traffic accident, or
murder site that didn't draw a crowd. There is a little trash in all of us. But the
same people who stop to gawk at a traffic accident, may also climb down a well
to save a child's life, or cry at a sunset, or grin and tap their feet when the
parade goes by.
"We are NOT just one thing. Kids can understand these grays...just as
there's more than one answer to a question, there is certainly more than one
part to you!"

Twelve Things You Should Know to Save on Computer Software

Do you want to get quality software at a reasonable price? Whether you work at home or just need good software for your personal computer, you are faced with an almost endless selection of computer software. Sorting through the options can sometimes be a major task. However, if you want to get good, quality software there are several things that you can do that will save you money and headaches.
With the arrival of online marketing, you have more choices than ever. There are a large number of reputable software companies that sell software at significant savings. With a little homework and thought on your part, you can get good quality software that will accomplish your specific task.
In order to save both time and money on computer software, here is a list of twelve things you should do.
1. First, make sure you know as closely as possible the exact task you want your software to accomplish. The more specific you are the better. For example, do you want a very general word processing program to write occasional letters or a more sophisticated word processing software program to run the marketing for your business?
2. Check out the minimum requirements necessary to run the software. You want to make sure it will run on your computer equipment. You should find out how much memory the program takes, what operating systems it will run on and how much disk space is required. Is there any other computer accessory required to use the software?
3. Talk to friends and associates that have used the specific type of software you're searching for. Ask them where they got the software, how much they paid, how long they've used the program, what type of guarantee came with the program, etc. If you have a task, which involves a deadline, like a payroll program, ask them how they were able to get answers to their questions and how long did it take.
4. Search the Internet for reviews on the software. Look at user groups or bulletin boards to see what users are saying about the software. For example, if you're looking at the QuickBooks business program, type in "QuickBooks Software Review" to locate review information about the program.
5. You should always test the software program before you purchase it. Many reputable companies will allow you to download their software and test it out before you buy. Take advantage of the opportunity to test the program. Enter some data, print some reports, and give the program a real workout. Try as many options as possible. Don't always follow set procedures. Try to experiment on your own. You want to know what the software does in a real world setting. You want to know what happens when you make a mistake.
6. If the software provides support, you should think of a question about the program that may not be too obvious and ask support for help. You're much better off to try out support before you truly need help than to wait until you're in a "must have help" situation. See how long it takes to get an answer. Check out how clear the response is. Ask yourself, "Did this completely resolve the problem for me?"
7. Check out the software warranty and company guarantees. A software company that stands behind their program will usually guarantee their products for a specific period of time. You should get at least a 30-day money back guarantee after purchasing the product. A 90-180 day guarantee is better. Usually, the longer the product warranty, the better the software.
8. Find out how often the company provides updates to their software. Check out the cost for getting the updates. For example, many companies will include updates for a specific period of time with the purchase price of the software. Companies that actively listen to their users update their software. If a computer program has not been updated for a long time, you probably won't get further updates.
9. If you get a "Freeware" software program, you need to know four things:
First, freeware is a software program that does not cost you any money. That means you will not be able to receive support from the author. You are basically on your own. Sometimes that is good. However, if you have a time sensitive task and run into a software problem, free software may not be your best option. If you miss a deadline and have to pay a penalty of some type, that free software isn't so cheap after all.
Second, many times freeware is an "introductory" version of a program. That means you may still have to pay for the "complete" program or the ability to use all the program options.
Third, if there is no charge for a program, the program may include software options that gather information about you, your computer, your surfing habits, etc. and then return this information to the company via the Internet. This is sometimes referred to as "Spyware" and can cause some real problems with your computer. When you use a program to eliminate the spyware on your computer, your "free" software program may no longer work.
Finally, if you are fairly computer literate, have no specific deadlines and know that a freeware program does not contain spyware, then, a freeware computer program can be a great bargain.
10. If you get a "Shareware" software program you need to know three things: First, shareware is a software program that lets you try it out before you buy it. The author is "sharing" the program with you. If the computer shareware program does what you want it to do, then the author expects you to pay for it.
Many shareware programs allow you to use the program for a set period of time. After that period of time, the program (or at least some of the program options) will not continue to work. Don't make the mistake of entering a lot of important data and then decide you "don't want to pay" for the program. You could be left high and dry.
Finally, some shareware programs will continue to operate regardless of how long you use them. If you come to rely on a shareware computer program, it is wise to pay the author the nominal fee they usually request. This will help the author continue to develop and enhance the program. Besides, you'll probably get support and help from the author if you need it.
11. Beware of companies that send you unsolicited emails offering "name brand" computer software at huge discounts. These are often overseas companies selling "illegal" software. You will not get support, but you could get a letter from the company's lawyer telling you that you're using a pirated copy of their software. Some people have even reported giving their credit card information to purchase these "great bargains" only to learn weeks later, they had paid for software they never got.
12. Last but not least, always order your computer software from a reputable online company. You'll experience the best service, the best warranty and the best computer products available

Everything You Should Know About Gold Investing

I just wanted to take a little time to discuss Gold as an investment. As the worldwide economy staggers along, fear is in nearly every investment market from currencies, to stocks, to bonds, to oil, and real estate. Nobody really knows where to put their money or what will be safe. Therefore they are holding mainly cash. This is good if you are looking to maintain your wealth, but it will not grow your wealth, and in fact as inflation picks up once a recovery begins, your wealth will shrink. This is where gold can come into play.

Why Gold?

Gold is probably the soundest, safest investment in the world. It likely won't return double digit percentage gains every year, but it will hold it's value for the most part, and is a great hedge against uncertain times as well as inflation. The world economies have pumped trillions of dollars into the economy. This will likely lead to economic recovery, however when economies do recover, there will be extreme inflation in my opinion. This is why Gold is likely a great investment right now. Some experts predict it will go as high as $2000 - $2500 an ounce within the nest 2-3 years.

How to Buy Gold?

There are several ways to buy gold as an investment. You can buy and store physical gold which isn't too bad since a normal sized safe deposit box can probably hold about $1 million in gold coins. Another way to invest into gold is to buy it through an Exchange traded fund that trades on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol (GLD). Sometimes the best way to invest in gold is just to buy gold mining stocks. As the price of gold rises the values of these mining companies will as well, since their assets are worth more.

As with any investment you should not put all your eggs in one basket. I would recommend maybe 10-15% of your total assets in Gold. If you think economic conditions will lead to Gold's value increasing in the short term, then maybe a bit more would be ok.

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Medical Tourism Tips - What a Medical Tourist Should Know and Do

 to your surgical destination. But before you do so, there are a number of things you should know and do to make your medical tourism trip safe and successful. Here is a list that will assist you in planning...

DO PROPER RESEARCH

Research is the first step to successful medical travel. Make sure that you do your research on the following:

1. The procedure: Find out about the procedure and compare your expectations with what's achievable by the surgery. Also inquire about follow-up care needed, time required for recovery, physical therapy, etc.

2. The hospital: When selecting the hospital that's right for your needs, you should consider the hospital's accreditation, awards and recognitions, facility and equipments, statistics like success rates, etc.

3. The surgeon: Check the certifications, training and repute of the surgeon who will be treating you.

4. The destination country: You should base your selection on: quality, distance and cost.

KEEP YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR INFORMED

Always work with your local doctor and inform him about your decision to travel overseas for treatment. You may need his assistance prior to the surgery for furnishing the health records required by the international hospital and post surgery for any follow-up checks that may be required.

HAVE ALL YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

Bring the following documents with you. For each document, make copies and leave one set of copies at a safe place at home.

1. Medical records: Medical records like X-Rays, MRI's, health histories, photographs, immunization records, prescriptions, and any other health records relevant to the surgery. Remember to carry all these medical reports and any medicines in your carry-on luggage.

2. Passport and visa: You will need a passport for yourself and your travel companion (if any). Depending upon the country you are traveling to, you may or may not need a visa. Check with your destination country's embassy for the same.

3. Credit cards, debit cards and travelers checks: Bring some local currency, travelers checks and one or two major credit cards and debit cards.

4. Driver's license: Carry your driver's license and make sure it will remain valid while you're traveling.

KEEP IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION HANDY

Keep the following contact information handy:

1. Emergency contacts like relatives and friends

2. Destination embassy

3. Hospital

4. Hotel

5. Local surgeon / doctor

6. Employer

BE PREPARED TO STAY LONGER/SHORTER THAN EXPECTED

You should allow ample time for recovery after your surgery before you travel back home. So be prepared to stay longer as advised by your doctor. In some other cases you may not need to stay for as long as was expected.

WORK WITH A MEDICAL TOURISM COMPANY

Last but not the least, work with a medical tourism provider. They are specialized facilitators that connect you with the hospital of your choice while providing all or some other valuable services like detailed information about various procedures, detailed hospital profiles and surgeon profiles, medical records transfer, free surgery quote, pre- and post-consultation with the overseas hospital, feedback and testimonials from previous patients, medical and dental loan financing, passport and visa, airport pick-up and drop-off, hospital escort, tickets, travel insurance, hotel booking, tourism services in the destination country, etc.

Due research and planning are vital to happy, safe and successful medical travel. Therefore, you must follow the above medical travel tips and do your homework before boarding the plane.

You can learn more about the growing trend of medical tourism, international healthcare facilities and surgeons and the details of the medical tourism process by logging on to http://www.healthbase.com. Healthbase.com is a medical tourism facilitator committed to providing low-cost high quality medical travel services to the global medical consumer.

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